Free Essays: The Themes of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein :: Frankenstein essays

The Themes of Frankenstein Mary Shelley discusses many important foots in her famous figment Frankenstein. She presents these themes through the characters and their actions, and many of them represent occurrences from her own life. many of the themes present debateable issues, and Shelleys thoughts on them. Three of the most important themes in the novel are birth and creation alienation and the family and the domestic affections. One theme discussed by Shelley in the novel is birth and creation. She does this through the main character, master copy Frankenstein, who succeeds in creating a human life form. In doing this, Frankenstein has taken over the roles of women and God. Shelley discusses how Frankenstein has employ his laboratory or workshop of filthy creation (page 53) as a kind of womb as he has worked on his creation. He also refers to his task as his labour, suggesting that he has literally given birth to his creation. After so much date spent in painful labour (Pa ge 51) The passing of time from when captain first began his creation and finished it is also significant. Winter, spring, and summer passed away during my labours (Page 54) The distance of the three seasons is nine months, representing the time a natural human cocker takes to be formed in its mothers womb. This once again suggests that Frankenstein has found a way to take over the role of women, and they become powerless, weak and flimsy. They no longer have a purpose in life, as victor Frankenstein can now realise new life forms - a attend to which women needed to be involved in previously. An example of womens powerlessness in the novel is the condemnation of Justine for a crime she did non commit. Had she been a man, she would credibly have been set free. Frankenstein succeeds in removing the only powers that women had, as well as stripping God from his role. Through the theme of birth and creation, Shelley criticises Victor not only for creating the new being, but a lso for abandoning it when it comes to life. Victor first wishes to create the being because he thinks A new species would bless me as its agent and source ... No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs. (Page 52-53)